H fankboner



Sept. 13; 1938. H. FANKBONER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STEREOTYPE MATRICES Original Filed Dec. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ATT OR Y Sept. 13, 1938. H. FANKBONER 20,855 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STEREO-TYPE MATRICES 4 sheets-sheet;

INVENTOR Original Filed Dec.

' P 3, 1938. H. IYTANKBONERI Re. 20,855

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STEREOTYPE MATRICES 7 Original Filed Dec. 4, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' Sept. 13, 1938. H. FANKBONER 20,855

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STEREOTYPE MATRICES Original Filec l Deo. 4, 19z1 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTZR ATTORNE Reissued Sept. 13,

IHE'I'HOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING STEBEOTYPE MATRICES Harland Fankboner, Chicago, IlL, assignor to'The Goss Printing Press Company,

corporation of Illinois Original No. 2,027,524,

Serial No. cation for Chicago, 111., a

dated January 14, 1938, 578.914, December 4, 1931. Applireissue January 14, 1938, Serial No.

185,019. In Great Britain September 25, 1931 23 Claims.

The present invention relates to novel and useful improvements in method and apparatus of making and preparing multi-color stereotype matrices, and more particularly to a. novel apparatus and method for treatingmulti-color stereotype matrices to produce therefrom a uniform set oi color plates. Y

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting apart hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Oi the drawinssz- V Figure l is a detail fragmentary plan view of the present. preferred and illustrative embodie ment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure Figure 4; is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged similar section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l; and

Figure 6 is a broken plan view showing the apparatus as a whole.

The invention is directed to a method and mechanism for producing and treating a set of matrices carrying the designs for the various superposed colors for multi-color printing, so that the matrices will be exactlythe same size, for providing all the matrices with mutually registered means for identically positioning them in the casting mechanism to effect accurate positional relation therein of the pre-sized designs on their respective plates, and also for providing the matrices with means for marking the stereotype plates of the set during casting so that they in turn may be exactly registered in the finishing machines, all to the end of producing perfect color work by rotary stereotype printing.

By my invention, the set of matrices, as for instance, those for the blue, red, yellow and black used in four color work, are subjected to rices just described. In the event that the preistered or presized designs, on the respective matrices will be cast in exactly the same position on 10 their respective color plates. While the matrices are thus mutually positioned and gauged, there are likewise made therein, in accurate regis y. marks reproducible in casting. Such registered marking will be cast in all the plates of the set, to the end that the plates may be accurately registered in the finishing machine. This feature of the invention is also fully and independently applicable apart from the step of presizlng the mai;- sizing is omitted, and instead the designs on the diflerent matrices are equalized, or averaged, that is, are brought as near complete mutual registration as possible without thepresizing, these cast marks will also bring the diflerent plates into register in the finishing machine.

The presizing operation may be employed with matrices received directly from the molding machine, and also with matrices which have been roasted but are capable of further slight shrinkage. In the former case, the mechanism and process of the present invention eilect the roast- 'ing and the presizing or equalization as one operation; and the matrices from the molding machine may be roasted to size by the gauges of my present mechanism. with the previously roasted but still somewhat shrinkable matrices, if any of the matrices are over-sized, heat is applied to shrink them, under the gauge tests, to-the exact size of the smallest matrlx. Perforations are 40 then made in all 01' the uniformly sized matrices, which are in exact register in all the matrices, and these register with projections on the casting chamber. All the pre-sised matrices, with designs of exactly the same size, are thus mutually registered in the casting chamber and the page designs are thereby cast in exactly the same positional relation with respect to theilnished ends and straight sides of each'of the respective plates.

To bring the plates-into exact mutual register in the finishing machine, preparatory to finishing, a registering mark is cast in cad: plate,

whichislaterregistered withanaliningdevice intheflnishing machine. Forthispurpomsuch marks, adapted for stereotype reproduction, are

into the same positional relation to their edges, respectively.

The invention provides also for making a permanent record of the page size, the exact location of the registry marks and casting indentations for each matrix, so that, in case of wear, accident, or the like, or from other cause, exact replicas of the matrix may be made, and the stereotypes cast therefrom will register with the other plates of the color set as exactly as did the plates made from the original matrix.

My invention provides also, as will be clear from the foregoing, a novel and highly useful set of matrices having the functions and characteristics previously described. Y

' The foregoing general description, and the following detailed description as well, are illustrative and exemplary but are not restrictive of the invention. 7

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, a

table i is provided having a top surface 2 adapted to receive in side-by-side, or other serial, positional relation the entire set of matrices, say the four matrices employed in four-color work, preparatory to the process of bringing the matrices tothe same size, and to making in or on them the registering marks and devices for securing their accurate mutual positioning and registering in the casting chamber and in the finishin machine. A broken plan view of the table is shown in Fig. 6, the matrices being indicated diagrammatically asm m, 1n and m The embodied form of means for me l g or gau g the matrices of the color so grand for applying thereto the different measuring and registration marks, comprises a carriage ll, whereon is mounted, the various devices for effecting. the aforementioned functions. The carriage is adapted to move above and along the series of matrices upon the table I and also to move away from above the matrices, thereby to permit easy access for the insertion and withdrawal of the same. As so embodied, carriage ii (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) comprises a four-sided frame, the opening of which will expose at least the full page size of the matrices when the frame is positioned thereover. To effect the described movements of the frame, it is mounted for slidabie movement along and over the table upon a rod l5, which rod extends longitudinally at the back of the table I, and is supported at either end in brackets ii and I1. fixed to the.

top of the table. Rear extensions l8 and I! of the frame ii are apertured to take the rod Ii, the frame thus being on the rod and slidable along the table, wardly and backwardly, a from the surface of the table, as shown in b en lines in Fig. 2.

. In the embodied form QfQgauging and marking means for use in bringing all the matrices of a particular color set to exactly the same size,

a plurality of gauging or indicating devices are employed. to indicate the page corners, or any selected corresponding points on all the matrices. In practice I preferably employ four such devices. In such embodied form, two guideways 2| swingable upamass and. are fixed to, extend upwardly from, and

are'disposed along the top of the side edges of the frame I l. The gauging devices, or points, for

mechanical convenience, are mounted in pairs.

For one of the pairs, supported on the guides 20 and 2i, so as to be slidabie therealong, is a rod 21 mounted at either'end in supporting blocks 2! and 29 (Figs. 1, 2, and 6). Each block 28 and (Fig. 5) is recessed so as to rest on top of the corresponding guides 20 and 2!, and has a flange 30 extending downwardly and slidable on the outside of the guide. It has also a flange extending downwardly on the inside:of the guide, with its lower end angled inwardly and projecting into and sliding within a longitu-' dinally-disposed groove 33 in the guide. A flat spring M is positioned between the flange mad the inner face of the guide to prevent play of the parts, while allowing the necessary slidabie action. A clamping screw 35 is threaded into the top of each supporting and guiding block 29 to clamp the rod 21 in the set position To permit movement of the two gauging devices along their rod 21, a pair of gauge carrying blocks 39 and 40 are slidably mounted on the rod. Each of these blocks has a downwardlyextending portion ll within which is mounted a spring-actuated marking pin 42, having a head 43, the pin being resiliently held in retracted position by a spring 44, mounted within the part ll. Pressure on the head 43 of the pin will depress it and cause it to mark the matrix or give a positional indication with respect thereto. A clamping screw 45 serves to fix the device in exact position on the rod 21. In the present preferred use of four of the gauging devices, another pair SI and 52 are supported upon and transversely slidabie along a cross rod 52 similar to rod 21, and which in turn has its ends supported in guide blocks 54 and 55, similar to guide blocks 28 and 29, and which are, in like manner, slidably mounted on the guides 20 and 2|. All of these are constructed and operate in like manner to the devices already described and need not be further described in detail.

The marking devices aflord accurate means either for averagely registering or for substantially exactly sizing the matrices of any given color set. The pins 42 are exactly positioned at the four corners, or at any other key points common to all the matrices, and are then fixed in position upon the respective rods 2'! and 53, and

furnish an exact size gauge for all the matrices, the carriage being slid along from one matrix to the other for this purpose. The various matrices of the set may be thereby averagely registered, that is, the images on the various mats may be brought into the closest average mutual register with the alining devices, with or without roasting or drying in the present mechanism, 8

currently .bring them to the same or average size 7 and registration by controlled application of heat; or to shrink some of thepreviously roasted matrices to a smaller standard size, usually that of the smallest matrix of the set. The original differences in size are, of course, very small. 7

Whenever the final registration is effected by averagely registering all the mats of the set, the heating devices may be dispensed with if desired. When the mechanism is employed to shrink some or all of the mats, whether previously roasted or not, by the application of just suflicient heat, each matrix may be shrunk until the gauging members 42 indicate that it is exactly the size of the standard matrix. The embodied form of heating means (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) comprises-a group of electrical heating elements 59, mounted in the table i, beneath the respective matrix locations..

and these heaters may be of any standard or other suitable construction. Each of the heating devices 50, at the respective loci of the matrices, is controlled by its own switch 60 whereby the operator can apply just the exact amount of -heat desired to efiect the requisite treatment as previously described. 7

Means are provided for marking the edges of the mutually sized matrices for trimming, and as embodied '(Figs'. 1 and 6) there are formed in the frame ll right-angled slots 83,, 65 and 66, corresponding to the four corners of the matrix,

- and after the matrix has been positioned and sized to the gauges 42-, the corners may be marked for trimming by inserting a pencil, scribe, or the like, in the angled slots, and thereby marking the matrix corners for trimming.

'In the embodied form of means for effecting identical positional registration of all the matrices of the color set in the stereotype casting chamber (Figs. 1, 4 and 6), means are provided for making a plurality of perforations in the positioned and sized matrix, which perforations engage or coact with corresponding projections in the casting mechanism. Asembodied, three I such devices are used, adapted to perforate the matrix Just within three of its corners. In the embodied form thereof, a block II is supported on the inner face of the guides 20 or 2| by suitable means such as screws "(passing through a flange I3 formed on the block. Within the block is mounted a reciprocable spring-pressed punch ll,

- having a head I5 and a compression spring 16 within the block. A stop 11 working in a recess 10 in the shank of the plunger limits the movement thereof. Cooperating with the punch 14 is a die block II, which is preferably pivotally mounted in a suitable recess in the table I, and is optionally, swingable into and out of punching position, the inner side of the recess alining it for the punching operation. If desired, the punched-out portion 'of the matrix may open into the edge of the sheet.

Means are likewise provided by the invention for marking the matrix sheet to produceregistering marks cast inthe stereotype plates, and' which will provide means for registering all the plates of the set in the finishing machine prebodied form of'such means (Figs. 1,.2, 3 and 6), two such devices for embossing a design in the matrix, preferably near the head and tail thereof, are provided. As embodied, a supporting block 81 is fixed on the corresponding cross-reach of the frame I i, and reciprocably mounted therein is an embossing punch 00, held in retracted position by a compression spring 09, and having an actuating head 90. A stop fixed on the block ll projects into a recess 32 in the shank of the punch to'limit its movement. These devices may be used irrespective of whether the matrices are.

shrunk to uniform size or whether the designs on the diflerent matrices have been equalized without the shrinking operation.

The embodied form of means for preserving a record of the size, and of all the registering means of each matrix, so that complete data for the making of replicas thereof are practically instantly available, comprises (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) a roll '91 of transparent paper, or the like, mounted in upwardly projecting portions of the lugs I 8 and [9, which carries the roll of transparent paper and is provided with a winding handle 98, and a suitable friction spring 99 to prevent loose unwinding. The paper 91 passes about a roller I III, mounted on the rod between the projecttions l0 and IQ of the frame, thence passes beneath the frame II, over the matrix (Figs. 2 and -3) and thence over a guide roller I02, mounted in on the front-cross reach of the frame II. A I winding roller ,l05 is likewise mounted in the members I03, I04 and is provided with a winding handle I05. All of the positional, sizing and registering marks made in any particular matrix are thus concurrently-made also in the transparent paper web 91, and constitutes a permanent record for that matrix. matrix can, of course, be written on the sheet.

It will be understood that with the concomitant gauging and marking of the transparent sheet 91 andthe matrix, there is recorded and preserved in the sheet the complete data for the size and location of the design upon e matrix, the relative position of the registration marks for the casting chamber, and also for the finishing machine, and this data, properly identified, is then stored by winding it upon the roller I05. When for any reason a replica of the matrix is required, all of this datais'rendered available for use in making such replica by winding the transparent webl'iin the opposite direction. part of the web 91 containing the data for'the matrix to be reproduced is again brought into operative relation with the frame II and its gaug ing and registering devices. In this work of reproducing a matrix (usually one of a color set) of the exact size of the other matrices of the set,

the portion of the web 91 marked at the time of the. preparation of the original matrix now becomes a part of the apparatus or instrumentality required for making the replica matrix,-and the Thereby the The identification of the without departing from the principles of the invention and without'sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. The method of treating a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises applying gauging devices to the series of matrices and selectively applying heat to a matrix or matrices'to bring them to the same size preparatory to casting the corresponding color plates therefrom. v

2. The method of treating a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises applying gaugingdevices. to the series of matrices and varying the sizeof said matrices to bring them to uniform size W tery to casting the corresponding color plates therefrom, and then uniformly producing in the matrices of a color seta registering device cooperating with a corresponding device in the'casting machine to identically position the designs on all the plates of the set.

3. The method of treating a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises applying gauging devices to the series of matrices and selectively applying heat to a matrix or matrices to bring them into registration with each other preparatory to casting the corresponding color plates therefrom, and then uni- .formly producing in the matrices of a color set a registering device cooperating with a corresponding device in the casting machine to identically position the designs on all the plates of the set.

4. The method of treating a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises. applying gauging devices to the series of matrices and mutually registering said matrices and bringing them to uniform size preparatory to casting the corresponding color plates therefrom, and then uniformly. producing in each matrix of the color set a registering device co-- operating with a corresponding device in the plate finishing machine to eifect uniform finishing in all of the plates of the set.

' 5. The method of treating a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises applying gauging devices to theseries of matrices and registering their designs with each other preparatory to casting the corresponding, color plates therefrom, then uniformly producing in the matrices of a color set a registering device cooperating with a corresponding device in the casting machine to identically position the designs on all the plates of the set and uniformly producing in each matrix of the color set a registering device cooperating with a corresponding device in the plate finishing machine to efiect uniform finishing in all of the plates of the set. I

6. The method of treating a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises applying gauging devices to the series of matrices and selectively applying heat to a matrix or matrices to bring same into registration with each other preparatory to casting the corresponding color plates therefrom, then uniiormly producing in the matrices of a color set a registering device cooperating with a corresponding device in the casting machine to'i'dentically position the designs on'all the plates of the set and uniformly producing in each matrix of the color set a registering device cooperating with a corresponding device in the plate finishing machine to efiect uniform finishing in all of the plates of the set. l

7. The method of treating a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises applying gauging devices to the series of matrices and selectively varying the size of one or. more to bring them to uniform size preparatory to casting the corresponding color plates therefrom, then uniformly producing in each of the matrices of a color set a registering device cooperating with a corresponding device'in the casting machine to identically position the designs on all the plates of the set and making in registered position on each matrig: a mark which is reproduced in the casting of the plate, and

- which serves to uniformly position all the cast plates of the set in the finishing machine.

8. The method of treating a m of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates which comprises applying gauging devices to'the series of matrices and selectively varying the sine of one or more to bring them to uniform size preparatory to casting the corresponding color plates therefromand then making in registered position on each matrixa mark which is reproduced in the casting of the plate,- and which serves to uniformly position all the cast plates of the set in the finishing machine.

9. In a method of producing a finished set of multicolor stereotype plates comprising making a set of matrices for color printing, then uniform- 1y producing in registered relation in the matrices of a color set a mark reproduced in the cast plates, and registering the stereotype plates of the color set by said cast marks for finishing.

10. In a method of producing a set of multicolor stereotype plates which comprises making a set of matrices for color printing, punching in said matrices in registered relation mutually registering holes, and positioning the matrices in the casting chamber by means of said registering holes to effect registered casting of the various color designs of the respective plates.

11. In a method of producing a set of multicolor stereotype plates which comprises making a set of matrices for color printing, making in said matrices in registered relation mutually registering devices, positioning the matrices in the casting chamber by means of said registering devices to effect registered casting of thevarious color designs of the respective plates, then uniformly pnoducing in registered relation in the matrices of the color set a mark reproduced in the cast plates, and registering the stereotype plates of the color set by said cast marks for finishing.

12. In a method of reproducing one of a set of matrices for casting multicolor stereotype plates for color printing, the step of applying gauging and registering marks concurrently to the set of matrices and to arecording transparent medium which may be preserved for later reproduction of a matrix for one of the colors so that said reproduction will register with the previously made matrices.

13. A mechanism-for treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination a support for the matrices, gauging means for determining the relative size of the designs on the various matrices .and optionally operable heating means under y g said support for bringing the matrices to a gauged size.

14. A mechanism for'treating sets of:'matrices forcolor printing including 'in combination a support for the set of matrices, gauging means movable along the series of matrices, for determining the relative siz'e of 'the designs on the various matrices andheating devices carried by said support for individual matrices for bringing the matrices to a gauged size.

15. A mechanism for treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination a support for the set of matrices, a carriage movable -along the series of matrices, gauging means on the carriage for indicating the relative size of the designs of the various matrices and means associated with said support for shrinking a matrixof larger size to a smaller gauged size.

16. A mechanism for treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination a support for the matrices, a carriage movable along the series of matrices, gauging means on the carriage for indicating register of the designs, 'means for making perforations in registered relation on the matrices which cooperate with means on the casting mechanism forefiecting mutual registration of the matrices in the casting chamber.

17. A mechanism for treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination a support for the matrices, a carriage movable along the series of matrices, gauging means on 'the carriage for indicating registration of the designs with each other, means for punching registering devices in registered relation on the matrices which cooperatewith means on the casting mechanism for eil'ecting mutual registration of the matrices in the casting chamber, means for making in the matrices marks reproducible in the cast plates, and means for causing said marking means to impress in register with each other a series of matrices to correspondingly mark the cast plates to effect register thereoiin a finishing machine.

18. A mechanismfor treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination a support for the matrices, gauging jmeans for determining the relative size 01' the designs on the various matrices, means for reducing an oversize matrix to a gauged size, and means for punching devices in registered relation on the matrices which cooperate with means on the casting mechanism for effecting mutual registration of the matrices in the casting chamber.

19. A mechanism for treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination a support for the matrices, gauging means adjacent to said support for determining the relative size of the designs on the various matrices, means for reducing an oversize matrix to a gauged size, means adapted to contact with a matrix for forming small holes in registered relation on the matrices which cooperate with means on the casting mechanism for efl'ecting mutual registration 01 the matrices in the casting chamber, means for making in the matrices marks reproducible in the cast plates, and means for causing said marking means to impress in register with each other a series of matrices to correspondingly mark the cast plates to effect register thereor in a finishing machine.

20. A mechanism for treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination means for positioning a transparent sheet over a matrix and means for concomitantly impressing registering means on the sheet and matrix, whereby a replica of the matrix may be produced by the aid ofthe registering marks in said sheet.

21. A mechanism for treating sets of matrices for color printing including in combination a matrix support, a frame, means for presenting a transparent sheet between the matrix and frame, and registering marking means mounted on the frame for concomitantly applying registering marks to the matrix and transparent sheet.

22. The method 01' preparing a series 01 matrices for use in producing a set of plates to be used for printing in diflerent colors on the same surface which consists in making all of said matrices with perforations through them in their margins in the same place on each matrix and in locating ,said matrices in the casting box, one after the other, with said perforations on the several matrices in exactly the same place in the casting box, for the purpose described.

23. The method of producing stereotype printing plates for printing different colors on the -same sheet which consists in providing a sepa- 

